Mayfield Press has upgraded its wide-format printing operation with the installation of a swissQprint Kudu printer, replacing an earlier swissQprint Nyala system as part of its ongoing investment in production technology.
The UK-based printer specialises in short-run applications including point-of-sale materials, signage, gifting, packaging, and office refurbishment graphics. The business first installed a swissQprint Nyala 3 in 2018 and later upgraded the system in 2021 with a varnish channel to support additional signage and wayfinding work.
The newly installed Kudu system features a four-colour CMYK configuration with white and varnish channels and uses swissQprint Q1280i high-resolution print heads. According to the company, the setup allows it to achieve print quality comparable to previous six-colour workflows while reducing ink consumption.
Mayfield Press said the move is expected to improve both sustainability and operating efficiency without affecting output quality.
Managing director of Mayfield, Spencer Slee, said the decision to invest in another swissQprint system was influenced by the company’s existing experience with the technology and supplier support.
“The swissQprint technology has proved to be incredibly reliable,” said Mr Slee. “That is critical to our market as we can’t afford any downtime. We wanted a machine that can handle high output as well as high quality print and that’s exactly what the Kudu does.”
Mr Slee said wide-format printing is currently the fastest-growing area of the business, with turnover in that segment increasing by 32% last year. Mayfield Press is one of four sites operating under the Print Evolved group, alongside locations in central London, Kent, and Surrey. The group intends for each site to develop a specialist focus, with Mayfield Press concentrating on wide-format and litho printing.
“When selecting our new machine, we quickly saw that swissQprint was the only option,” stated Mr Slee. “The Kudu adds value to our business and the swissQprint team has helped us understand how to feed the machine and get the best out of it. Their support is enabling us to grow.”
The 3.2 × 2m Kudu system is capable of operating at speeds of up to 341sqm/hr. SwissQprint says the machine consumes an average of 2.2 kWh of electricity during operation.
Steve Pridham, sales manager at swissQprint, commented: “Our technology is the right fit for Mayfield Press, and their upgrade makes perfect sense. The four-colour specification has helped them to reduce ink usage, while maintaining the high-quality levels of print that swissQprint’s printers are renowned for. It’s been great to be part of the business’s continuing success.”
